City of Cupertino Reveals Additional Details Regarding New Apple Campus

Back in June, Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled plans for a new Apple campus before the Cupertino city council meeting, having described the building appearing "a little like a spaceship landed." Since then, the city has unveiled more details in regard to Apple's plans for building the 2.8 million square-foot circular office building within the city.

So where are we at in this process? Currently, the city is in the middle of the review process of Apple's plans. This first part requires conducting an environmental impact assessment that evaluates any traffic, noise, air quality issues as well as giving the public a chance to comment. Following that, Apple's plan would then go through a development review and further public hearings at the Planning Commission and the City Council.

Apple has dubbed the new four-story structure "Apple Campus 2," which would cover a vast 2.8 million square feet. The Corporate Auditorium would house 1,000 people, and the new Research Facilities would cover 300,000 square feet.

Apple has stated that their objectives for the project are to "maximize efficiency and convenience" for employees, create a "distinctive and inspiring 21st Century workplace," and "exceed economic social and environmental sustainability goals through integrated design and development."

The structure would allow for the support of up to 13,000 employees. Apple is also wanting to decrease its reliance on electricity provided by the city power grid by building its own on-site Central Plant.

(Image courtesy of AppleInsider)

The new campus would utilize curved glass the entire way around and has the potential to be "the best office building in the world," said Jobs.

Apple is in the process of trying to obtain over a dozen permits and approvals as it relates to the project. Cupertino mayor Gilbert Wong also thinks there is "no chance" that the city would not approve the new building.

(Image courtesy of AppleInsider)

One of the large factors behind Apple seeking the new building is that the company is simply running into cramped space for its employees. According to Jobs, Apple has had to resort to renting buildings "at an ever greater radius" from where the company is currently located at One Infinite Loop, which houses 2,600 employees.

The new campus is expected to be completed in 2015, but what will be interesting is if Apple will need to add on additional space, as the company already has 12,000 employees within the area.